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Sparrows Celebrate Silver with Lovington Show

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Photo by Barry Morgan
This truckload of rock was among the first Sparrows’ grand prizes.

Cars, Trucks, Bikes, Tractors and More

•May 15, 2019•

A quarter of a century ago, a group of people got together at Jerry’s East End in Lovington to hold a live auction and just have a good time.
A good time was had, and Sparrows Unlimited Inc. was born.
Incredible items were up for bid including a truckload of rock and a brand new weed eater… and only after the bidding did the winners find out what they won. The truckload of rock, a toy truck with a handful of rocks. The weed eater, a live rabbit. And who can forget the door prize, an actual outhouse door.
“We raised approximately $500 from the auction and sold memberships for a dollar. In six months time we sold about 2,000 memberships,” Tom Brown, one of the originals said, noting they had to figure out what to do with the money.
“It was decided at our second meeting to use the money for needy children in the Lovington community and keep enough back for a free dinner for the members. The meal would consist of fried bologna, fried potatoes, green beans and pork and beans.”
And every auction since has included that fried bologna. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above is a photo of county officials around 1906. Front Row: Judge Geo. Sentel, Supt. of schools J.C. Hoke, County Clerk Cash Green, City Judge Hutchison, State Attorney Art Lux, Treasurer Ray Warren, Sheriff W.O. Funston, Circuit clerk Ed Slivers. Back row: Deputy Clk Andy Burwell, Coroner Dr. D.A. Miller, Deputy Sheriff Sam Newbould, Deputy Circuit Clk Almond Nicholson. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

Summer Reading Programs at Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library

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New Independence Camp in July planned

•May 15, 2019•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

With school coming to a close and summer drawing near kids will have plenty of options for fun at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library.
Beginning now, parents may sign up their children for the summer reading program. They may call the library at 217-728-7221, visit the library to register or register online by going to signupgenius.com, click, “Find a sign up” at the bottom of the website and then type in ldavisonx4@gmail.com for the creator. Should there be any questions about the online sign-up process, you may always call the library.
On May 31, the reading fun begins with a kick-off party from 11-3 p.m. outdoors at the library. If there is rain, the party will be moved to the gymnasium in the Sullivan Civic Center. There will be inflatables, crafts, games, cotton candy and snow cones. One of the fun activities includes making a planetarium. The celebration will be free to the public. Read More

Sullivan Fire District Updates Pre Fire Plans

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•May 15, 2019•

The Sullivan Fire District will be conducting/updating Pre Fire Plans to area selected buildings over the next several months.
This is to gather information for planning fire response, apparatus placement, and gathering of information such as utility locations, hazards, and emergency contacts. This also allows us to become familiar with these buildings and allows residents of our District to become familiar with us.
We will contact you ahead of time to schedule a visit. We do not issue any code violations. We may make some suggestions to fire safety and egress in the case there were to be a fire. We have requested this information in the past through the Chamber of Commerce Newsletter but had very few returns.
This information is also being collected for a future ISO Grading Evaluation at a later date. Points are given for Pre Plan Information. The ISO Grading Evaluation is used by insurance companies to establish premiums for property insurance.
Mike Piper/Chief
Sullivan Fire Protection District

Sullivan Softball Season Ends at Teutopolis

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•May 15, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan softball team’s season ended against Shelbyville in the Teutopolis Regional, Monday.
Sullivan took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Addison Darush knocked in Alexis Britton.
Shelbyville scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and held on for the 2-1 win.
Morgan Moll was 2-for-3 at the plate, and Alexis Britton was 1-for-3.
Morgan Wallace took the loss in the circle. Wallace allowed two runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. She struck out one.
Moll went 2-for-3, and Wallace was 1-for-3.
Before the regional, the Redskins defeated St. Teresa but lost to Cumberland and Clinton. Read More

MoDo Fair Pageant Time

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•May 15, 2019•

Young ladies wishing to participate in the 2019 Miss Moultrie-Douglas pageants - Miss (16-21), Jr Miss (11-14), Little Miss (5-7) (New age for Little Miss Contestants) should contact Sandy Hoke 493-3583 or visit their website www.moultriedouglascountyfair.com and download the applications. Deadline for turning in applications is June 2. The new Miss Moultrie-Douglas will receive a $2000 scholarship. Scholarships will also be given to the first and second runners-up.

City Council Looks at Community Revitalization

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan City Council: (from left) Public Health and Safety Charles Woodworth, Streets and Public Improvements Peggy Hargis, Accounts and Finances Abbey Sherwood, Mayor Richard Glazebrook and Public Property Mike Fowler.

•May 15, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Sullivan’s new mayor and city commissioners kicked off their first official meeting May 13 discussing a community revitalization program.
Mayor Richard Glazebrook explained blighted neighborhoods could be addressed, but noted the commissioners should determine how the revitalization is funded, the amount of reimbursement and how the program is administered.
City Administrator Dan Flannell was directed to prepare a resolution for consideration at the May 28 city council meeting.
Flannell updated the new board on the previous revitalization plan which was operated and funded through the Public Property Dept. and was limited to individual residences. Read More

Okaw Valley Softball Ends Season at Nokomis

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•May 15, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley softball team ended its season against Nokomis in the Okaw Valley Regional at Nokomis, Monday.
Nokomis plated two runs in the second inning, and OV scored its lone run in the fifth inning when Paige Coleman batted in Kailyn Walker.
Grace Bunfill suffered the loss in 2-1 pitchers’ duel. She allowed two unearned runs on three hits in six innings and struck out eight.
Both teams recorded three hits.
Last week, before the regional, OV lost to Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond twice and to Blue Ridge on a walk off hit.
In the Blue Ridge game Thursday, OV ended up on the wrong end of a slugfest. Read More